Abstract: In a process for the low-pollutant conversion of thermal energy produced by burning fossil fuels into power, the thermal energy produced by burning fossil fuels is delivered directly to the cyclic process by virtue of the fact that in the cyclic process the fuels are burned with oxygen in the presence of carbon dioxide recycled from the cyclic process to form gas turbine operating substances having a temperature of from 800.degree. to 1500.degree. C. Furthermore, according to the invention, the pressure difference between the combustion chamber (1) and the carbon dioxide recycling process is compensated by condensation (11), on the one hand, and evaporation (4, 8) and pre-heating (3) of the carbon dioxide to be recycled and the combustion chamber (1), on the other, by compression (7) and expansion (6) which are performed during the process, preferably with a high-performance gas turbocharger (6, 7).

Abstract: A power management system for turbine engines includes a plurality of switches, each allowing for engine speed and engine torque to be controlled together. The switches correspond to various modes of operation of the turbine engine. When a switch is selected, a mode signal is supplied to a FADEC which, in response, issues speed and torque commands to an associated engine. The FADEC includes function generators that issue the torque commands as a function of outside ambient conditions. The torque commands are continuously updated for changing ambient conditions. Further, takeoff torque can be corrected for heating conditions. The power management system can also provide torque commands as a linear function of power lever angle.

Abstract: A compact, unfired, staggered tube, once-through steam generator or boiler of simple construction intended primarily for combined cycle power plants in which the thermal energy utilized to generate steam is obtained from the exhaust gases of a gas turbine engine. The boiler provides steam at two different pressure levels, which maximizes recovery of thermal energy; and all wettable components in the steam/water loop are fabricated of corrosion resistant materials. This eliminates the need for controlling the pH of the feedwater and the need for chemically controlling its dissolved oxygen content, thereby reducing maintenance and operating costs and making automatic, unattended, remotely controlled operation of the boiler practical as well as eliminating the need for blowing down the boiler and minimizing requirements for make-up water. The boiler can be operated dry to remove gas side fouling; and feedwater flow rates can be directly controlled.

Abstract: In a regenerative rotodynamic compressor, a portion of a disc-like impeller adjacent the impeller periphery extends radially through an annular chamber in the compressor casing concentric with the impeller, thereby dividing said chamber into two annular side channels, one on each side of the impeller. The portion of the impeller lying in the annular chamber has scooped out annular cavities or recesses in its sides in which are disposed rings of aerodynamic blades, and fluid flow passing around the annular chamber from an inlet to an outlet is caused to circulate repeatedly, flowing radially outward through the blading in the impeller cavities and radially inward in the annular side channels alongside the impeller outside the impeller cavities. The aerodynamic blades are designed so that the angle between the entry and exit flows of each blade is greater than 90.degree..

Abstract: A heat engine producing a hot gas is cooled by a fluid which in turn is cooled by the convective updraft of air in a cooling tower. The convective updraft is increased by adding a portion of the hot gas to the air in the cooling tower downstream of the heat exchange between the air and the cooling fluid. The heat engine may be an internal combustion engine of the gas turbine or piston type or a compressor or the like, and the hot gas may be product or exhaust.

Abstract: Two aircraft jet engines are associated respectively with two sub-systems each comprised of a gas turbine for starting one of the engines and driving a set of secondary power generators such as hydraulic pump and electric generator and an air conditioning unit. The two sub-systems are drivingly cross-linked so that either gas turbine can drive both sets. The air conditioning units as well as the gas turbines receive tapped air from the engine compressors, whereby the gas turbines may run with or without combustion. An emergency power pack may be provided, preferably in selective driving connection to one of the sub-systems to provide for the possibility of starting a gas turbine and driving, if necessary, the power generators of that sub-systems or furnishing hydraulic and electric power on a emergency basis when all sub-systems have failed.